FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

Well, I'm not going to solicit the advice of any relatives on this. I can only see this UWW-UWRF game going one way. Warhawk Dominance.

Cant figure out why WW offense, except for obvious difference in QB play, was so ineffective vs RF D, ranked low in conference stats. Improvement I guess.

I'm not saying this is the sole reason- but here's the halftime stat that bothers the ever lovin *^it out of me: 3 rushing attempts by UWW running backs.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say Every Single Person on the Planet (except one, maybe two) understood it was important to keep the UWRF offense off the field.
THREE RUSHING ATTEMPTS by actual running backs.
Like the song says:
Who The F*#* Are You?

['95 Blugold]

Blugolds have their only remaining winnable game on the road this weekend as they travel to take on Stevens Point. A loss this weekend and the Blugolds likely go winless in the WIAC.

What do you make of this? With the facilities that UWEC has, it has been a decade of bad football. I expected this to be a turn around year for them. Not sure what else they have to do to get out of the basement of the WIAC.

From my non expert analysis opinion it comes down to 3 things.

1. Coaching and their ability to get talent at Eau Claire. Had hopes with Wesley Beschorner a few years back, but looking back now and seeing his coaching path it's pretty clear Eau Claire was just a stepping stone job for him, so kind of wonder how vested he was in building for the long term success of the program.

Erickson does have previous WIAC history so he is familiar with and knows what it takes to win in the WIAC. The key is hopefully for him to stay and keep building on what he's started and not leave. The Sonnentag facility was new last year, so hopefully that can help pull in better talent. There has been talk on getting home games on campus. As nice as Carson Park having home games on campus would be pretty awesome. I know this example gets thrown around sometimes when you have a really bad NFL team and you compare them to top college teams, and it may be a bit hyperbole, but you could probably put the Minnesota State AAAAAA champ against Eau Claire in a game and it would be fairly competitive.

2. QB Play. Looking at other teams in the WIAC, the successful ones have difference maker at the QB position. This has been huge liability in recent years for Eau Claire. Malueg was completely inept and Roubideax who followed him and wrapped up his career last season was a turnover machine. Our current QB (Soph.) Ayden Helder is a first year starter and has looked rather promising. He's a 2X state champ in Minnesota at the AAA level from my area over here so I've followed him prior to him even becoming a Blugold. Barring injury, he'll be rewriting record books for the Blugolds at QB by time he wraps up his career. Just hope that translates into wins.

3. No Defense. Apart from Stevens Point, the last time Eau Claire held a WIAC opponent under 30 points in a game before the Oshkosh game this season was 2019 against River Falls. Pretty much any team other than Point could call their score before the game and hit it. Going back through the 2021 we've given up 50+ in 11 games with a few in the 60 and 70+ range. Heck we could barely keep those teams under 40. Apart from River Falls dropping 73 on us a couple weeks back we haven't given up more than 50 in the other games so I guess there's that. I'm sure some is scheme/coaching, but the defensive side of the ball is lacking in talent, especially against the pass.

That all said this year's squad is very young. Looking at the starters from today's game against Point 16 of our 22 starters are listed as freshman or sophomores, with many of the sophomores I'm sure as first year starters that red shirted last season. If they can develop and we can bring in some better talent to upgrade hopefully we see a little more progress next season and then 2 years from now really take a meaningful step forward. Until then, I'm afraid we are the Badgers of the WIAC:

- Bad Football Team
- Awesome Band
- Really good Volleyball Program    (not that I'm complaining about the band or VB program, cause they are fun to watch.)

[fredfalcon]

Emma, almost every attempted run up the middle was stopped by the Falcon D. Their Dline outplayed the WW Oline decisively. As it was, time of possession was slightly in favor of WW. Had they kept the ball on the ground, they might have given it up sooner and given UWRF more opportunities. I'm going with improved Falcon D.

[bleedpurple]

Dang. They good!

[palum]

Platteville takes care of Oshkosh 21-14. The game was not as close as the final score. Oshkosh scored on a 60 plus yard pass and had one sustained drive. Platteville controlled the line going on long time consuming drives led by its running attack. A turnover on downs inside the 10 and 2 missed field goals kept the score closer than it really was. Platteville has Stout and EC left. If they win out it would take some help for them to get a playoff bid.

[badgerwarhawk]

We couldn't run the ball to save our souls.  RF simply dominated up front on both sides of the ball.  If we were going to win this game we needed a lot better play by the O'line and QB.  Unfortunately we got neither.  Now we have to focus on winning the last two and hope for the best.

[cubs]

I'll be curious to see the NPI rankings this week. I don't think it's out of the question to see the WIAC put four teams in the NCAA Playoffs this year.

1. La Crosse vs River Falls winner also wins final game to finish 8-1 or 9-1.

2. La Crosse vs River Falls loser wins final game to finish 7-2 or 8-2.

3 & 4. Whitewater and Platteville both win out to finish 8-2.

That 21-2 (losses to North Central and Wartburg) non-conference record definitely helping out everyone's NPI numbers.

Now do I think the WIAC "deferves" four teams in the Playoffs? That's a topic for another day... 

[Bofadeeznuts]

Lit up. LIT. UP.
Wow. What a disgrace for the best program in D3. We officially hit an all time low.
Was that our "baby Warhawks" out there playing?
Reasons why we lost:
1. The refs screwed us again. Just nonstop bad calls against us.
2. We don't have tall wide receivers. How is the best QB in D3 suppose to throw the ball down field.
3. It's unfair that we had to play against a QB that's 29 yrs old and probably gets drafted.
4. We need to pound the _ock more. Even down 30, we need to pound _ock. That's how we dominate. Have the best defense in the country and pound the _ock all game long. That's the recipe for success. Get back to playing like it's 2005.
Even though the WIAC has had almost 0 success the last few years letting the best 2 teams in the playoffs, the committee HAS to let in 4? maybe 5? teams in from the best conference. Odds are 1 should make the quarterfinals.
There's no question we make a deep run in the playoffs with a great QB, best defense in the country, and probably the best coaching staff in the country.
So please just let us in. We're probably the only ones that will give Mount Union a good game in the finals.
Silver lining to yesterday is the fact we lost to probably the best team in the country. That should only help with our Jeff Sagarin ratings when it comes to the committee deciding whether or not to let a 4th WIAC team in.

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say Every Single Person on the Planet (except one, maybe two) understood it was important to keep the UWRF offense off the field.

One-play scoring drives keep them off the field as well.

[emma17]

Emma, almost every attempted run up the middle was stopped by the Falcon D. Their Dline outplayed the WW Oline decisively. As it was, time of possession was slightly in favor of WW. Had they kept the ball on the ground, they might have given it up sooner and given UWRF more opportunities. I'm going with improved Falcon D.

I think you're missing my point. You posted:
"Almost every attempted run up the middle was stopped by the Falcon D".
UWW only ran the ball 3 times w running backs in the first half. You have no idea, nor do I, what would have happened had UWW actually handed the ball off to their running backs. No post above addresses this specific point. QB draws and gimmick plays w your receiver in the backfield isn't the same as establishing a running game. UWW never tried to establish a running game.
I'm sure you're familiar w play action. If you don't hand the ball off to your running backs, how do you create effective play action passing?

No, I'm not jumping on the UWRF D outplayed the UWW O line- because it's impossible to say based on the extremely limited data to support it. UWW game plan/play calling succeeded in eliminating the potential for complementary football.

Hats off to UWRF for sure, I hope they go all the way to the Stagg and win it, but the game plan for UWW led to an embarrassment.

[BigMark]

Emma, almost every attempted run up the middle was stopped by the Falcon D. Their Dline outplayed the WW Oline decisively. As it was, time of possession was slightly in favor of WW. Had they kept the ball on the ground, they might have given it up sooner and given UWRF more opportunities. I'm going with improved Falcon D.

I think you're missing my point. You posted:
"Almost every attempted run up the middle was stopped by the Falcon D".
UWW only ran the ball 3 times w running backs in the first half. You have no idea, nor do I, what would have happened had UWW actually handed the ball off to their running backs. No post above addresses this specific point. QB draws and gimmick plays w your receiver in the backfield isn't the same as establishing a running game. UWW never tried to establish a running game.
I'm sure you're familiar w play action. If you don't hand the ball off to your running backs, how do you create effective play action passing?

No, I'm not jumping on the UWRF D outplayed the UWW O line- because it's impossible to say based on the extremely limited data to support it. UWW game plan/play calling succeeded in eliminating the potential for complementary football.

Hats off to UWRF for sure, I hope they go all the way to the Stagg and win it, but the game plan for UWW led to an embarrassment.

It felt like to me UWW was not even ready to play that football game from the jump. I have watched the Warhawks 4 different times and they looked like a shell of themself. I am not sure if that is a coaching staff thing to have the kids ready to play in a top 10 game? The defense had 0 answers for tempo that UWRF does. It almost looked like they were surprised by it. UWRF with a statement win for Coach Walker and crew. The UWO game makes less and less sense every week that goes by. I am curious how the Falcons will rebound this week off an emotional high, I am hoping this is the year we can get a WIAC team to play in the final 4 or national title. This league is as good and deep as I have ever seen it.

[emma17]

Big Mark,
I had the same feeling as you regarding the energy level of the Warhawks, something seemed off.

I will pound this point as UWW is supposed to pound the rock.
Energy and momentum and confidence, etc, are contagious, and they greatly impact complementary football. I'm not saying UWW would have or should have won that game. I am absolutely saying the offensive game plan left no chance for energy and momentum.
For people like fredfalcon and Badgerwarhawk and any other readers saying the UWW run game got stuffed, here are some facts:
1. Blaha has been a very dangerous QB for several years, there is no surprise what he can do.
2. 2023 UWW wins 21-14. UWW running backs Thomas and Maher combine for 29 rushing attempts.
3. 2024 UWW wins 13-7. UWW running backs Schultz, Martin and Stanton combine for 43 rushing attempts.
4. 2025 UWRF wins 52-14. UWW starting running backs Schultz and Stanton combine for 7 rushing attempts (Darrick Hill came in late 4th quarter for three attempts).
5. First Quarter Series:
1st Series:
3 and out.
Stanton one carry, the same amount as receiver Tyler Vasey.
2nd Series:
3 and out, no RB carries.
3rd Series:
9 plays, missed field goal.
Schultz got one carry, the same as receiver Tyler Vasey.
UWW gets one more play before end of 1st. quarter.

That's it!! That's UWW's great effort to control the game with the Pound The Rock attitude. That's the incredible dominance by the UWRF defensive line. They stopped those TWO running plays and man, it was all over.

Of course UWW decided they'd get back to that pound the rock mentality (you know, when the first few smacks don't break the rock, but you keep at it because you trust in it).
2nd Quarter:
ONE running back carry.

3 rushes from the UWW running backs in the first half. Yep, UWW sure tested that UWRF front. 

 

[bleedpurple]

Platteville takes care of Oshkosh 21-14. The game was not as close as the final score. Oshkosh scored on a 60 plus yard pass and had one sustained drive. Platteville controlled the line going on long time consuming drives led by its running attack. A turnover on downs inside the 10 and 2 missed field goals kept the score closer than it really was. Platteville has Stout and EC left. If they win out it would take some help for them to get a playoff bid.

According to Hansen Ratings, if the Pioneers win their last 2 games, the have a 100% chance to qualify for the playoffs.